Andover Public Schools’ MCAS test scores improved between 2021 and 2022 but, like school districts across the state, have yet to return to pre-pandemic levels.
The state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education released the 2022 results on Thursday, and officials warned a statewide drop in English scores is a sign it may be “years” before Massachusetts students recover from the school disruptions during the coronavirus pandemic. Last spring’s test was the second administered after the 2020 exams were canceled when schools abruptly shifted to a remote learning model.
Andover’s scores remained well above state averages, with 65 percent of students in grades three through eight scoring meeting or exceeding expectations in English, 64 percent in math and 68 percent in science. But those scores are all lower than the scores in the last pre-pandemic exam in 2019, when 71 percent of APS students in grades 3-8 were meeting or exceeding expectations in English, 67 percent in Math and 74 percent in science.
“These results show that it may take a few years for students to recover academically from the COVID-19 pandemic,” Education Secretary James Peyser said in a statement. “Many students need more time learning, whether it is in the form of tutoring, acceleration academies, early literacy, after-school programs or summer learning.”
Results for individual students will be sent to parents next month. The Andover School Committee will likely discuss the results at its Oct. 6 meeting, after district officials have had a chance to analyze the results.
Potential areas of concern in Andover include third and tenth grade Math, fourth, fifth, sixth and tenth grade English and fifth grade science. Andover’s scores in all of those tests fell between 2021 and 2022 after all scores fell between 2019 and 2021
Andover Public Schools MCAS Results By Year
| Exam | 2022 | 2021 | 2019 |
| GRADE 03 – ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS | 67/44 | 73/51 | 77/56 |
| GRADE 03 – MATHEMATICS | 55/41 | 56/33 | 67/49 |
| GRADE 04 – ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS | 63/38 | 71/49 | 70/52 |
| GRADE 04 – MATHEMATICS | 67/42 | 53/33 | 72/50 |
| GRADE 05 – ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS | 66/41 | 68/47 | 73/52 |
| GRADE 05 – MATHEMATICS | 62/36 | 60/33 | 72/48 |
| GRADE 05 – SCIENCE AND TECH/ENG | 65/43 | 68/42 | 78/49 |
| GRADE 06 – ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS | 63/41 | 67/47 | 68/53 |
| GRADE 06 – MATHEMATICS | 70/42 | 63/33 | 64/52 |
| GRADE 07 – ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS | 63/41 | 57/43 | 66/48 |
| GRADE 07 – MATHEMATICS | 67/37 | 55/35 | 64/48 |
| GRADE 08 – ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS | 67/42 | 53/41 | 71/52 |
| GRADE 08 – MATHEMATICS | 66/36 | 57/32 | 64/46 |
| GRADE 08 – SCIENCE AND TECH/ENG | 72/42 | 58/41 | 71/46 |
| GRADE 10 – ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS | 75/58 | 80/64 | 84/61 |
| GRADE 10 – MATHEMATICS | 70/50 | 74/52 | 81/59 |
| GRADE 10 – SCIENCE AND TECH/ENG | 57/47 | ||
| GRADES 03 – 08 – ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS | 65/41 | 65/46 | 71/52 |
| GRADES 03 – 08 – MATHEMATICS | 64/39 | 57/33 | 67/49 |
| GRADES 05 & 08 – SCIENCE AND TECH/ENG | 68/42 | 63/42 | 74/48 |
The controversial exams are given annually to assess the performance of school districts and teachers. Critics say the exam forces educators to “teach to the test.” In Massachusetts, the test is a graduation requirement, which critics say increases drop out rates. They also argue the test puts districts with a high number of students whose first language is not English at a disadvantage.
“We know that with time and the right supports our students can achieve and exceed their previous success,” DESE Commissioner Jeffrey Riley said. “We also continue to work with teachers and districts to improve early literacy instruction and, through deeper learning initiatives, make Massachusetts schools more relevant, engaging and creative places to be a student or teacher.”